Johannesburg

There’s a train that comes from Namibia and Malawi. There’s a train that comes from Zambia and Zimbabwe. There’s a train that comes from Angola and Mozambique - from Lesotho from Botswana from Swaziland.

These lines are from Hugh Masekela’s quintessential anthem, Stimela (steam engine), which profoundly captures the essence of the millions of migrant labourers who, since 4 October 1886 (when the first claims were laid out), have mined the gold that built the economy of Johannesburg and South Africa.